Brief
Paris shuts Louvre and other museums ahead of Saturday protests
French interior minister announces massive police deployment and museum closures as protesters plan Saturday demonstrations over the cost of living.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Paris will close the Louvre, the Orsay, the Picasso Museum and the Grand Palais on Saturday, Oct. 24, as French authorities prepare for large‑scale protests against the cost of living. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told a news conference that about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons, will be deployed across the capital.
What happened
The decision follows two days of unrest that saw fires, looting, smashed shop windows and clashes with police. Demonstrators – including students, members of the CGT labor union and activists from the “yellow vest” movement – plan to take to the streets again on Saturday. The Interior Ministry said elite police units will secure public buildings such as city halls in a “highly mobile” operation.
What the reports add
According to the New York Post, the Culture Ministry confirmed the closure of the four museums in a statement to the Associated Press, urging institutions to adopt any measures needed for visitor safety, staff protection and artwork preservation. The outlet also noted that Art Basel Paris, normally a multi‑day event at the Grand Palais, opened to the public for only one day before cancelling its weekend program due to safety concerns.
What was said
Minister Nuñez warned, “There have been numerous calls from radical far‑left groups on social media to commit acts of violence and vandalism. There have also been renewed calls for looting, with those messages clearly being spread by rioters.” He added that police would be “absolutely uncompromising” and would take a “very firm approach to making arrests, and there will be legal consequences.”
How it came about
The museum closures follow a weekend of what French officials described as the country’s most violent unrest in years. Earlier protests had already forced the Louvre to close after barricades were erected by students from the École du Louvre, and nearly 2,400 arrests were reported across France during that period. The current security measures are intended to prevent a repeat of those incidents as protesters plan a major march in central Paris on Saturday.
Key facts
- Paris will close the Louvre, Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais on Saturday. (nypost.com)
- Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced deployment of about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes. (nypost.com)
- Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend program after opening for one day. (nypost.com)
- Protesters include students, CGT union members and yellow‑vest activists. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Paris to shut down the Louvre, other tourist attractions over fears of violent Saturday protests”
